Ikan Bakar in Kota Kinabalu: Grilled Fish You Can Order on GrabFood

Several kedai ikan bakar operate within or close to Kota Kinabalu Town, including spots in Harbour City at Sembulan and the Karamunsing commercial district. These restaurants carry grilled fish as a menu centrepiece, serving it alongside rice sets and seafood combinations. All three below are available on GrabFood.

Tucked into the ground floor of Harbour City in Sembulan, Grill Fish keeps things focused with a menu built squarely around grilled seafood and rice. The Nasi Ikan Bakar is a straightforward classic, while the Nasi Udang Bakar + Ikan Bakar pairs grilled prawns and fish together over rice for something a little more substantial. Those wanting a twist can go for the Nasi Udang butter + Ikan Bakar, which brings a richer, buttery element to the prawn side of the plate.

NK Restaurant & Catering in the Karamunsing Godown area takes its ikan bakar seriously, offering an unusually wide range of grilled fish by cut and species. Regulars can choose from the Ikan Bakar Geronggong / Cencaru in small or medium portions, or branch out to the firmer Ikan Bakar Kerapu and the Ikan Bakar Ketumbak, both available in medium. For something different, the Ikan Bakar Merah, Ikan Bakar Mawar Hitam, and the Ikan Bakar Kayu jenis suwad round out a selection that gives fish lovers plenty to work through across multiple visits.

Desa Kemangi occupies a corner of Harbour City's ground floor in Sembulan, sharing the block with a handful of other eateries in one of Kota Kinabalu's busier commercial clusters. The kitchen leans into Malay-style cooking, and the Ikan Bakar Sambal sits at the heart of what they do, grilled fish brought to life with a punchy sambal. It's a solid choice for anyone in the Harbour City area looking for something straightforward and satisfying at the table.

Raja Asam Pedas 1984 sets up at the Likas Driving Range next to Stadium Likas, making it an easy option for anyone in that part of Kota Kinabalu. The restaurant's ikan bakar offerings come with the classic accompaniment of sambal belacan, whether ordered as the standalone Grill Fish Ikan Bakar sambal Belacan or as part of the Grill Fish Combo Set Ikan Bakar dengan Nasi dan Sambal Belacan, which brings rice into the picture for a more complete meal. The 1984 in the name suggests a long-running presence in the local dining scene.

Selera Bangsata is tucked onto the first floor of Block E in the Kolombong area of Inanam, slightly off the beaten path but well within reach for residents of that part of Kota Kinabalu. The combi set ikan bakar offers a bundled grilled-fish meal that keeps things simple and complete in one order. For anyone in Kolombong looking for a sit-down option that doesn't require a trip into the city centre, this is a practical neighbourhood choice.

Chicken Rice & Grills at Suria Inanam, near the 1Borneo stretch along Jalan Tuaran Bypass, does what its name suggests, rice and grilled dishes sitting comfortably side by side on the same menu. The ikan bakar side of things is covered by both a Set Ikan Bakar Sambal, which comes as a complete meal, and an ala carte Ikan Bakar Sambal for those who prefer to build their own plate. It's a versatile setup that suits solo diners and groups alike.

Grilled fish done the traditional way has a devoted following in Sabah, and Warung Pak Sahak Ikan Bakar at Sri Putatan Commercial Centre taps right into that appetite. The menu centres on ikan bakar, with the Ikan bakar blais and the Uji rashid ikan bakar both making an appearance as named specialities. Sitting within the Seri Putatan Commercial Centre in Putatan, it's a convenient stop for anyone in the area hunting down a proper grilled-fish fix without heading into the city.

Selera Kampung in Taman Suria Penampang carries the kind of name that signals home-style, unpretentious cooking, and the menu delivers on that with the Ikan Bakar Uji Rashid Sekor, a grilled fish preparation sold by the piece. Sitting near KKIA in Penampang, it's well placed for residents and those passing through the neighbourhood who want something familiar and satisfying. The kampung sensibility in the name hints at a menu rooted in everyday Malaysian flavours rather than anything overly elaborate.

The name Nasi Lapar, literally "hungry rice", sets a very clear expectation, and this Taman Suria Apartment spot along Jalan Penampang Lama leans into hearty, rice-forward eating. The Ikan Bakar Uji Rashid (Sekor) features on the menu, a grilled fish preparation sold by the piece that pairs naturally with a plate of rice. It's the kind of straightforward, filling meal the name practically promises.

Sri Tawau Cafe in the Taman Suria shop lots near KKIA brings a taste of Tawau-style eating to the neighbourhood, with ikan bakar on the menu as one of its grilled offerings. The cafe format makes it an easy, no-fuss spot for locals around Taman Suria who want a quick and familiar meal. With a name rooted in the east coast of Sabah, it carries a regional flavour that sets it slightly apart from the average neighbourhood cafe.